Gazania Flower Seeds - Magical Sunlight for Your Garden

Gazania rigens, the cheerful Treasure Flower, brings a burst of sunshine to any sunny corner. Its large, daisy-like blooms unfurl in radiant warm tones, opening wide in bright sun and closing again at night or under cloud. Forming neat low mounds about 15-30 cm tall and wide, this tender perennial is prized as a vibrant ornamental for borders, rockeries, edging and containers, thriving where the heat and drought defeat fussier flowers.

Planting

Direct-sow outdoors 2-4 weeks after the last frost once the soil has warmed in mid-spring, or start indoors about 8 weeks earlier for sooner blooms. Sow roughly 6 mm deep in well-prepared soil and keep it consistently moist. Germination takes 14 to 21 days at a soil temperature of 15-18 degrees Celsius. Once seedlings reach about 5 cm, thin each group to one strong plant, harden off for two weeks, then transplant 30 cm apart in full sun.

Fertilizing

Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained soil and apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in early spring. Avoid over-feeding, which encourages lush foliage at the expense of flowers. Container plants benefit from a fortnightly feed with a potash-rich fertiliser.

Care

Give full sun, 6 or more hours daily, ideally a sheltered south- or west-facing spot. Let the soil dry between waterings, as plants are drought-tolerant once established but prone to root rot if overwatered. Generally pest-free outdoors; good drainage and air circulation guard against root rot and grey mould. Blooms arrive about 12 weeks after sowing, spring through summer.